Bacteria conveying mechanism



MT mi @ch 25, s. R ROSENTHAL BACTERIA CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 16, 1956 Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for conveying bacteria and more particularly to apparatus embodying in a unit a device for sterilizing bacteria transfer instrument and a bacteria container.

In a bacteriological laboratory it is necessary, in transferring bacteria from one container to another for propagation purposes and for making cultures, that the bacteria-carrying instru- 1 ment and the mouth of the container to which thebacteria is to be removed be sterilized immediately prior to the transfer. Obviously, the inside of the container can be sterilized prior to the insertion of the bacteria, but it is particularly important that the mouth of the container and the instrument be sterilized immediately before .the bacteria are removed. While the invention hereinafter described .is disclosed in connection with a sterilizer for the mouth and upper portions of 20 test tubes, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited but may be employed in connection with sterilizers for bacteriacontainers .of various sizes and shapes. I

A feature of the invention is that the sterilizing devices are electrically heated, .thereby eliminating the possibility of soiling the parts to be sterilized. In the devices known to the art cmbodying gas burners it frequently occurred that soot was deposited on the container mouth. Likewise the improved electrically heated burner will not cause air drafts bringing impurities into contact with thesurfaces to be sterilized.

In apparatus of the art employing gas burners it was frequently impossible to sterilize both the bacteria transfer needle and the mouth of the container immediately prior to their use. An object of this invention is to devise a unitary device whereby one operator can simultaneously sterilize a bacteria transfer needle and the mouth of the container immediately prior to their use.

A further-object of the invention is to devise a bacteria transfer needle which may be conveniently handled and readily sterilized.

A further object of the invention is to devise a unitary sterilizing structure which is simple in construction and adapted to convenient operation.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is-shown, in which:

Fig. l is a broken front elevation, partly in section, of the invention; and i Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation of a device embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference charhollow and houses an electric .main 4 which ex- 1;,

tends through one end of the base and is adapted to be plugged into the wiring system of the building in which the apparatus is used. EX- tending upwardly from one end of the basemember is a bracket 5 fixedly supporting a heating element 6. The heating element extends downwardly and away from the bracket 5 and comprises a tube 7 preferably formed of insulating material, for example, porcelain, and has a portion M of constricted cross-section shaped to have a test tube placed thereover. One lead 8 from theelectrical conduit 4 extends up the bracket through the tube 1 to an opening near the lower end of the tube, passes through said opening, is coiled around the constricted portion 7a of the tube, as clearly drawing, to form a heating coil 9, and then leads through the upper end of the tube and back along the bracket-5 into the base.

The other end of the top of the base member 3 is provided with an electrical socket it, adapted to receive terminals ll and [2 of a bacteria transfer instrument 5%. Mounted above said socket and secured to the base by means of bolts I 4 is an instrument supporting member l5 equipped with bores l6 and i? permitting terminals H and [2 to pass therethrough. Connected to the terminals l I and i2 is an elongated loop of high resistance wire, such as Nichrome, consisting of lines l8 and i9 forming a bend at their uppermostportion. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the lower portion of the elongated loop is enclosed in a handle casing 2! and a casing 22 of reduced cross-section adapted to be inserted in atest tube. The casings 2| and .22 are preferably packed with lava 23 or other suitable insulating material, and the resistant leads l8 and i9 are centrally disposed in spaced relation in said insulating material. The casings 2| and 22 may be connected in any suitable fashion. For example, as shown in the drawing, they are screw threaded into a block 24 of insulating material, such as Bakelite, provided with bores housing the leads l8 and i9. It will thus be seen that the improved bacteria transfer instrument comprises a needle-like device having terminals H and I2 electrically connected to socket it] when the instrument is resting on its support [5 and anexposed bacteria carrying portion 25adapted shown in the to be rapidly brought to a sterilizing temperature in such position.

The socket I0 is provided with terminals 26 and 21, the terminal 21 being electrically connected to a switch 28 of conventional character provided with a toggle member 29. It is readily apparent from Fig. 1 that the resistant coil 9 and the resistant leads I8 and I9 form a part of the same circuit, extending through the heating coil 9, the switch 28, terminal H, the resistant leads l8 and I9, terminal [2 and back to the cable 4.

In operation the resistant coil 9 and the bacteria carrying loop 25 are rapidly heated to a white or sterilizing heat when the instrument I3 is inserted in its socket l0 and the switch 28 is closed. The mouth of a test tube to be employed as a bacteria container may then be placed over the heating coil 9 and subjected to the sterilizing heat emanating from the coil 9. It is readily apparent that at the same time the loop 25 will be subjected to a sterilizing heat. Upon breaking the circuit by opening the switch 28, the loop 25 will rapidly cool and the bacteria transfer instrument may be removed from the socket and inserted in a bacteria containing vessel.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A bacteria transfer instrument comprising a handle portion, a portion of reduced cross section secured to said handle portion and adapted to be inserted in bacteria containers, said handle portion and reduced portion being packed with insulating material, .a plurality of conductors extending in spaced relation through said insulating material in said handle and reduced portions and ending in terminals depending from said handle portion, and an elongated bacteria transfer loop of resistant material forming an extension of said conductors and held in a fixed and exposed position above said reduced portion, said loop being adapted to be heated to a sterilizing temperature immediately prior to transfer of bacteria thereon.

2. In a unitary structure of the type described, a base member; a support mounted on one end of said base member; a core of non-conducting material depending from said support; a resistance element wound around said core; an electrical socket mounted in said base; a bacteria transfer instrument comprising a handle portion and a resistance element extending through said handle portion, having an exposed portion above said handle portion and ending in terminals depending from said handle portion adapted to be in serted in said socket; and means within said base member and said support electrically connecting said first resistance element and said socket.

3. In a unitary structure of the type described, a base member; a bracket mounted on one end of said base member; a tube-like core of insulating material depending downwardly and away from said bracket; a resistance element wound around said core; an electrical socket in the other end of said base member; a bacteria transfer instrument comprising a resistance wire forming an elongated loop and ending in terminals adapted to be inserted in said socket and a handle portion packed with insulating material enclosing a portion of said elongated loop; means in said base member and carried by said bracket for electrically connecting said resistance element and said socket; and means for controlling the current flow from said resistance element to said socket.

4. In a unitary structure of the type described, a hollow base member; a bracket mounted at one end of said base member; a core of non-conducting material secured to said bracket and having a reduced portion adapted to have a bacteria container placed thereover, said reduced portion depending downwardly and away from said bracket, a resistance element wound around said core; an electrical socket in said base member; an instrument support having bores and disposed above said socket; a bacteria transfer instrument adapted to rest on said support comprising a resistance wire forming an elongated loop ending in terminals adapted to be inserted in said socket, and a handle enclosing a portion of said elongated loop; a source of electrical supply in said base; a circuit electrically connecting said current supply, said resistance element and said socket; and means on said base for opening and closing said circuit.

5. In a unitary structure of the type described, a base, an electrical socket forming a part of said base, a resistance wire adapted to be heated to a sterilizing heat in the form of an elongated loop, an insulated handle enclosing a portion of said resistant wire, terminals on the ends of said resistant wire adapted to be received in said socket, a bracket mounted on said base, a core of nonconducting material depending downwardly and away from said bracket, a resistance element coiled on said core adapted to be heated to a sterilizing heat, means electrically connecting said socket and said resistance element whereby said resistance element and said resistance wire may be brought to a sterilizing heat substantially simultaneously, and means for controlling said connecting means.

6. In a unitary structure of the type described, a base member; a heater fixedly mounted on one end of said base comprising a refractory rod, and a coil of resistance material helically wound thereon; an electric socket mounted in said base; a bacteria transfer instrument detachably carried on said socket, said instrument comprising an insulated handle portion and a resistance element extending through said handle portion, having an exposed bacteria transfer portion above said handle portion and terminating in a plug depending from said handle portion adapted to be inserted in said socket; and means Within said base member and said heater electrically connecting said coil of resistance material and said socket.

'7. In a unitary structure of the type described, a base member; a vertical bracket mounted on said base, an electrical heater carried on the upper end of said bracket at an angle thereto comprising a tube of refractory material, coils of resistance material helically wound on said tube, and leads extending from said coils through said bracket and into the base; a bacteria transfer instrument detachably mounted on said base member, said instrument comprising an elongated insulated handle portion and elongated bacteria transfer member preferably formed of wire and terminating in a loop; a source of electrical supply in said base and forming a circuit with said leads; and means on said base for opening and closing said circuit.

SOL R. ROSENTHAL. 

